THR reports that Sony is looking to reboot Manimal — NBC's 1983 show about a guy who is a manimal — as a feature film. Is this the most ridiculous thing you'll hear out of Hollywood all week? On the one hand, the show was a famous flop, lasting only eight episodes. It revolved around a rich, handsome, and mysterious doctor/professor/police consultant who transformed into a black panther in order to fight crime. It was called Manimal. (Still confused? Allow Rembert to explain it to you). On the other hand, you're at least barely aware of it, right? Somewhere, maybe just in the back of your mind, you're somewhat conscious of the phrase manimal? Well then that means it's qualified for rebootin'!
The book isn’t out and the man is still being mourned, but nothing can stop Hollywood from its business of moviemaking. Over the weekend, news leaked that Sony Pictures was nearing a seven figure deal to option Walter Isaacson’s upcoming biography, Steve Jobs, with the goal of bringing the Mac messiah’s life to the screen as soon as possible. On its own merits, a film about Jobs is a no-brainer — and hell, Noah Wyle has a ton of free time these days. Besides, both The Social Network and Moneyball proved that compelling films can come from narrative-challenged business stories. No, what’s curious isn’t the subject, it’s the studio: Sony.
Following weeks of intense negotiations, Sony and AMC have reached a deal to produce 16 final episodes of Breaking Bad. Those episodes will be filmed together but may or may not be split into two seasons depending on how many Emmys Bryan Cranston feels like winning. Grade: A+ [Vulture]
On Saturday, Captain America's Hayley Atwell (29 years old), Clash of the Titans' Alexa Davalos (29), and Made in Dagenham's Rosamund Pike (32) auditioned for a role in Paramount's Jack Reacher movie, One Shot, opposite Tom Cruise (49). Grade: C- [HR]
Following talk that renewal negotiations had turned tense and Sony was shopping Breaking Bad to other channels, it now looks like TV's Best Show will stay put at AMC. The network has an offer on the table for one more 13-episode season, but indications are that the final deal will include 13 to 20 more episodes, possibly spread over two seasons. Are there even 20 more awful things left for Walter White to do? Pressure's on, Vince Gilligan. Grade: A [Deadline]
Yesterday, Universal heroically backed out of plans for a movie version of board game Clue, one of seven Hasbro properties it once planned to adapt (the studio previously dropped Monopoly and Magic: The Gathering, but will still make Stretch Armstrong, Candy Land, Ouija, and next year's Battleship). But worry not! Work on the movie will continue, with Hasbro paying development costs and director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) still attached. Grade: B- [Deadline]
